The Khomas police commander Commissioner Ishmael Basson has urged law enforcement officers to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones against the pandemic.
Basson recently joined hundreds of Windhoekers in getting vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine at the Windhoek Showgrounds drive-through vaccination point, which is open Tuesdays to Sundays.
“Being on the forefront of the fight against Covid and executing the compliance of the regulations, it is expected of law enforcement to get vaccinated. That is one of the ways that one can protect themselves against attacks by the coronavirus,” he said.
Basson further emphasised that although vaccination remains a voluntary option, it is necessary since “there is no way that people at the forefront of enforcing regulations do not get in contact with the virus”.
Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga echoed similar sentiments over the weekend as he conducted an operation in Rehoboth and Windhoek.
During the operation, police arrested three suspects, allegedly found in possession of drugs at Rehoboth. Meanwhile, in Windhoek, one suspect was arrested for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol while driving without a valid driver’s licence in a vehicle found to have no licence disk.
Ndeitunga indicated that statistics on the number of police officers who have been vaccinated to date is currently unavailable; however, there are some who have received their first and some second jabs.
“Men and women in uniform have understood the importance of vaccination; we have received information that many of our members are approaching vaccination centres,” he said.
He went on to say the duty schedule of police officers is complex; therefore, special arrangements are being made with the health ministry to give some priority to uniformed personnel at vaccination points.
In addition, a date will be established at the Windhoek correctional facility, where uniformed personnel can get vaccinated.